Their computer systems make sewer systems work

David Dmytryka, right, president of Dmytryka Jacobs Engineers Inc. of Perrysburg Township, goes over plans of a water treatment plant with Michael Beeman, project manager.

David Dmytryka and Mark Jacobs were co-workers at Toledo s Jones & Henry Engineers Ltd. when they decided to strike out on their own to design the automation and control systems used in sewer and water treatment plants.

I was at a point where I wanted to move up to see if I could do it, Mr. Dymtryka said.

I figured the worst-case scenario when we left was we would lose some money, lose some time, and have to go back where we left.

At first, times were tough at Dmytryka Jacobs Engineers Inc.

They grossed $18,000 in the first six months of existence and watched money fly out the door, Mr. Jacobs said.

Then jobs started trickling in, including one to do the computer controls for the water plant in Sidney, Ohio.

The company had $250,000 in revenues in 1995, its first full year.

Last year revenue topped $2.2 million, the partners said.

Now the Perrysburg Township firm has eleven employees and spends about 75 percent of its time doing work for municipal systems.

The rest is spent doing similar work on automation and control systems for factories and other industrial settings.

Dmytryka Jacobs gets contracts to design or implement automation and control systems and, in the case of factories, sometimes both.

The firm, for example, can handle a computer system and associated equipment for a wastewater treatment plant that enable it to monitor and react to water levels, flows, temperatures, and other factors.

The same technology can be applied to equipment used in steel, glass, canning, quarries, and other industries.

In Sidney the firm replaced the computer system for the water system and for the wastewater plant.

Previously the city had to pay for expensive monthly contracts for technical support, but with the new system there isn t as much need for assistance, said Don Freisthler, Sidney s water plant superintendent.

They worked with us so we could be self-sufficient in keeping our own system running, he said.

Dmytryka Jacobs also helped Sidney develop a safety system for occasions when operators work alone, Mr. Freisthler said.

If an operator doesn t respond to a periodic alarm, the system will call Mr. Freisthler.

If there is no answer, the police and fire departments, he said.

Seven of the firm s workers have bachelor s degrees in engineering.

It s a pretty high power as far as paper on the wall type of group, said Mr. Dmytryka, president.

Much of the company s municipal work is in the Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Flint areas, but it has had some local contracts. It also can calibrate equipment such as water level and flow sensors.

The service doesn t make money but may lead to more work, said Mr. Jacobs, whose title is vice president.

It s the little [jobs] that lead to the big ones, he said.

Contact Julie M. McKinnon at:jmckinnon@theblade.comor 419-724-6087.

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